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When a person is evaluated for high blood pressure), 2 values are recorded: systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Systolic (the higher number) is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts; diastolic (the lower number) is the pressure when the heart rests between contractions. A blood pressure reading is recorded as systolic /diastolic pressure, or "systolic over diastolic." Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures are measured in millimeters of Mercury (mmHg). An example of how to read a blood pressure measurement is "120 mmHg/80 mmHg" or "120 over 80." High blood pressure in adults is defined as having either a systolic pressure of 140 mmHg or more, or having a diastolic pressure of 90 mmHg or more. In some people with high blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic pressures are high. However, older people often have a higher systolic pressure with a normal. This condition is called isolated systolic hypertension, which is still considered high blood pressure. In older adults because the arteries reduce in elasticity, they do not expand as easily causing an increase in the systolic blood pressure (Imagine the same quantity of blood flowing through a vessel that doesn't expand. It gets really crammed in there causing systolic blood pressure to increase). But because diastolic pressure is the minimum pressure exerted on the arteries during diastole, there isn't much distension and contraction of the arteries. Thus, reduced elasticity does not effect diastolic pressure causing a normal blood pressure reading.

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15y ago
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14y ago

some of the causes are: heart failure, dehydration

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11y ago

By diagnosis!

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Q: What causes a high diastolic but low systolic reading?
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What does the high number of blood pressure stand for?

The larger of the two numbers in a blood pressure reading is the "systolic" reading. The lower number is the "diastolic." The systolic reading measures how hard the heart pumps when it contracts; whereas the diastolic reads the pressure when the heart relaxes.


Which reading if high should you be more concerned with systolic or diastolic pressure?

They look at the diastolic (smaller number) when checking for high blood pressure.


What is more dangerous high diastolic or high systolic?

Having a high systolic bp is more dangerous than high diastolic bp.


Normal range for diastolic and systolic blood preassure diastolic 110 for systolic 71?

The systolic number is always higher than the diastolic number. 120 or lower for systolic number and 80 or lower for diastolic is in normal range. If diastolic is high, say 95 after running - is ita high? and if what should one do?


What is good systolic pressure?

The systolic pressure is always stated first and the diastolic pressure second. For example: 122/76 (122 over 76); systolic = 122, diastolic = 76. Blood pressure of less than 140 over 90 is considered a normal reading for adults. A systolic pressure of 130 to 139 or a diastolic pressure of 85 to 89 needs to be watched carefully. A blood pressure reading equal to or greater than 140 (systolic) over 90 (diastolic) is considered elevated (high).


What are the two readings that are taken to find out blood pressure?

The two reading notes on a blood pressure reading is systolic and diastolic. Systolic reads the pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle beats or contracts. Diastolic reads the pressure in the arteries between beats or contractions.


What does it mean when systolic pressure is high and diastolic is low?

Whereas Systolic pressure means the peak in blood pressure when your heart contracts, Diastolicpressure is the pressure when your heart relaxes, between beats.Low diastolic pressure usually means a low total volume of blood in the vascular system for the heart to pump. The most common causes of this would be dehydration or hemorrhage.


Is it possible to have a very high systolic pressure and a very low diastolic pressure?

No.


What is the hypertension?

High Blood Pressure "Hyper" is High "Hypo" is Low Tension is Blood Pressure Hyper would be anything over 150 systolic and 90 diastolic Hypo would be anything lower than 100 systolic top number systolic, bottom diastolic


What is is hypertension?

High Blood Pressure "Hyper" is High "Hypo" is Low Tension is Blood Pressure Hyper would be anything over 150 systolic and 90 diastolic Hypo would be anything lower than 100 systolic top number systolic, bottom diastolic


What is a good blood pressure reading?

A good blood pressure reading for the average person is Less than 120 for the systolic (top) number and less than 80 for the diastolic (bottom) number). Blood pressures between 140-150 systolic and 90-99 diastolic are considered to be Stage 1 high blood pressure. A systolic reading of 160 or higher and a diastolic of 100 or higher is considered to be Stage 2 High Blood Pressure. Higher numbers than those are considered to be a crisis and can be life threatening.


High systolic low diastolic?

"Normal" blood pressure is somewhere between 90/60 and 140/90. Systolic - the top number Diastolic - the bottom number Systolic pressure is when the heart is contracted and squeezing blood out of the heart. Diastolic pressure is when the heart is relaxed and letting blood flow into the heart.